The nerfs are promising, but we'll have to wait awhile to test them out.
Overwatch 2’s next patch will target some of the strongest heroes currently in the game. In a post on the Blizzard forums, Overwatch 2 community manager Andy “AndyB” Belford outlined a selection of nerfs set to take effect on November 15. The changes target Sombra, Genji, Zarya, D.Va, and the new ninja-themed support, Kiriko. The full list of changes is as follows:
Sombra
Hack ability lockout duration reduced from 1.75 to 1.5 secondsHacked enemies are no longer valid targets for hacking for the duration of the effectHacked damage multiplier reduced from 40 to 25%
Genji
Maximum ammo reduced from 30 to 24Shuriken damage reduced from 29 to 27
Zarya
Barrier duration reduced from 2.5 to 2 secondsBarrier cooldown increased from 10 to 11 seconds
D.va
Fusion Cannon spread increased from 3.5 to 3.75Boosters impact damage reduced from 25 to 15
Kiriko
Swift Step invulnerability duration reduced from 0.4 to 0.25 seconds
We’ve previously covered how all the best tanks in North America have been playing Zarya. With Overwatch 2’s shift to a single tank meta, many feared damage-oriented secondary tanks like the Russian weightlifter would be left behind. It seems Blizzard overcorrected, as her new double bubbles have let her become a bit of a raid boss with near-constant invulnerability.
The uptime reduction seems like a smart shift to tone her down without undermining that fantasy. D.Va, meanwhile, retains her new and improved defensive matrix while simply having her damage and accuracy taken down a peg.
Support slayer Genji thoroughly benefitted from the shift to a single tank meta, so needing more shurikens to kill and having fewer of them in a clip (magazine? forearm?) could strike a better balance with the freer hand he has in the backline now. Sombra, similarly, will now have less potential as a solo assassin, especially with that massive hacking damage nerf (40% to 25%).
New heroes always need at least a little tuning after getting introduced, and Kirkio’s reduced invulnerability window will attach greater risk to wanton teleporting.
These all seem like sensible changes to balance a hero shooter that, despite some progression and monetization issues, is still the game we’ve loved since 2016 at heart.
While we’re here, if Blizzard is taking balance comments, I would like to suggest some changes for Cassidy:
Doubled Peacemaker body shot damage, tripled headshot damageReintroduced flashbang alongside Magnetic Grenade, he gets both nowDeadeye locks on instantaneouslyNo one is allowed to be mean to me in team chat anymore
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